Global Baseball League Launches African Franchises

Baseball Expands to Africa with New Teams

The Global Baseball League (GBL) has announced its expansion into Africa with three new franchises set to begin play in the 2026 season. This marks the first time a major international baseball league has established teams on the African continent.

Growing the Game

The new franchises will be located in:

• Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa)
• Lagos, Nigeria (West Africa)
• Johannesburg, South Africa (Southern Africa)

Each team will develop local talent through youth academies while initially supplementing rosters with international players. The league has partnered with WBSC Africa, the continent's governing body for baseball, to establish infrastructure and training programs.

Development Strategy

GBL Commissioner Robert Manfred stated: "We're investing $200 million in facility construction and player development programs across Africa. Our goal is to make baseball accessible to 500,000 new youth players within five years." The initiative includes:

• Building 15 new stadiums with modular designs
• Training 1,000 local coaches
• Establishing school partnerships in 12 countries

WBSC Africa President William Williams welcomed the move: "This accelerates our efforts to grow baseball. We've seen participation double since 2020, especially in Uganda, South Africa, and Ghana."

Competition Structure

The African franchises will compete in a newly formed Continental Division alongside European teams. Regular season play begins April 2026, with the top teams qualifying for the GBL World Series. Player recruitment combines:

1. Local talent from African academies
2. International draft selections
3. Free agent signings

The league plans to host the 2027 All-Star Game in Lagos, Nigeria.